DPWH lawyer, driver hurt in Pasay shooting incident

Police line. Stock Photo

MANILA, Philippines — A lawyer of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) National Capital Region (NCR) and her driver were wounded following a reported shooting incident in Pasay City, according to the Southern Police District (SPD).

In a report issued on Tuesday, SPD identified the victims as Maria Rochelle Melliza Melendez, a 53-year-old lawyer of DPWH-NCR, and Deo Decena, her 42-year-old driver.

Based on Decena’s account, police reported that the two victims were traversing along Fortuna Street, Barangay 21, heading to FB Harrison Street when two unidentified gunmen moved closer to their vehicle and opened fire.

This prompted Decena to alight from their vehicle and seek assistance as fleeing suspects threw pieces of paper with the word “Partisano” (Armadong Operatiba ng Partido Marxista-Leninista ng Pilipinas) before heading toward FB Harrison Street.

Police said a witness, Dave Calixto boarded the victims’ vehicle and rushed them to the hospital for medical treatment. Melendez sustained gunshot wounds in her forehead and forearm, while Decenia was shot in the left shoulder and left side of his chest.

According to SPD, Decena is already stable, while Melendez just left the operating room. Her husband, Marco Matias, said the bullet inside Melendez’s head was already removed. The victim was transferred to the ICU and is currently unstable.

Operatives of the Pasay City Police Station immediately responded to the incident and conducted dragnet operations, assembling tracker teams “to backtrack the location, entrance and exit points of the motorcycle riding suspects.” They are also reviewing the CCTV footages within the area.

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JPV